CUT shock Maties, Eagles edge Wits

VARSITY CUP WRAP: CUT overturned a 15-point half-time deficit to beat Maties 23-18, while there were also Round Six Varsity Cup wins for UFS Shimlas, UWC and NWU.

CUT IXIAS 23 (0) MATIES 18 (15)

CUT recorded their greatest feat as they scored a last-minute try to beat Maties at the Tuks B-Field.

With the scores locked at 18-18, a spilt ball from Maties on halfway was picked up by CUT lock Derik Pretorius, who stormed upfield before putting fullback Cohen Jasper away for the match-winning try.

It is the first time that the three-time Varsity Shield winners have beaten the five-time Varsity Cup champions.

As expected, the massive storm in Pretoria during the night and long into the morning, caused both teams to struggle to assert themselves as unforced errors ruled the day.

The Maroon Machine found their attacking groove on one occasion as scrumhalf Lian du Toit was on hand to receive the final pass to score an early point-of-origin try.

However, the first half dissolved into a stop-start affair, with opportunities to attack being stifled by mistakes and the remaining points coming courtesy of flyhalf Christian Schreuder’s boot.

A yellow card to Maties flank Mitchell Carstens allowed the Ixias to fan the flames on attack, which they capitalised on off a powerful line-out drive with flank Hans Terblanche being credited with the try.

With their tails up, CUT were rampant on attack and received their just rewards as inside centre Heino Bezuidenhout smashed his way over for an unconverted try just before the second strategy break.

A penalty apiece by the kickers saw the scores level until Jasper snatched a dramatic win for the Ixias.

Player That Rocks: Zinedine Booysen (CUT Ixias)

The scorers:

For CUT Ixias:
Tries: Terblanche, Bezuidenhout, Jasper.
Con: Williams
Pens: Williams 2

For Maties:
Try: Du Toit (1×7)
Con: Schreuder
Pens: Schreuder 3

Teams:

CUT Ixias: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Christiaan Nel, 13 Niell Stannard, 12 Heino Bezuidenhout, 11 Ricoman Titus, 10 Charles Williams, 9 Zinedine Booysen, 8 Luvuyo Ndevu (captain), 7 Bennett Nortjé, 6 Hans Terblanche, 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Brendon Fortuin, 3 Janus Botha, 2 Janus Venter, 1 Eddie Davids.
Replacements: 16 Francois Bester, 17 Thabiso Msiza, 18 Wandre Nortjé, 19 Matthew Sekele, 20 Ulrich Stander, 21 Xander Botha, 22 Jandré de Beer, 23 Emilio Adonis.

Maties: 15 Nevaldo Fleurs, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 David Brits (captain), 12 Waqar Solaan, 11 Marcqiewn Titus, 10 Christopher Schreuder, 9 Lian du Toit, 8 Ben-Jason Dixon, 7 Jaco Nel, 6 Mitchell Carstens, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Dylan de Leeuw, 3 Matimu Manganyi, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Dian Bleuler.
Replacements: 16 Jean-Jacques Kotze, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Duncan du Buisson, 19 Simon Miller, 20 Gift Dlamini, 21 Jesse Johnson, 22 Dylan de Leeuw, 23 Wian van Zyl.

MADIBAZ 20 (5) UFS SHIMLAS 24 (12)

UFS Shimlas scored an 81st-minute try against the Madibaz to record their first win of the 2021 Varsity Cup.

The Free Staters opted to kick a late penalty to touch rather than at goal, which would have given them a draw. And that bold approach paid off as replacement wing Luyanda Mkhize scored in the right-hand corner.

Much like the earlier match on the Tuks B-Field, proceedings were dampened by the conditions. However, it did little to prevent Shimlas from running from all areas on the pitch as they capitalised on the Madibaz’s poor discipline.

Shimlas inside centre JP Duvenage knocked over four penalties to hand them a 12-0 lead at the first strategy break, before Madibaz lock Hardus van Eeden crashed over from a line-out for an unconverted try.

The second half belonged to the men from the Eastern Cape as an early penalty coupled with two tries courtesy of wing Nkoka Ngobe and prop Le-Kleu Stokes gave them a slender lead, despite Shimlas scoring a try via inside centre Janco Klinck.

But the men from Bloemfontein snatched victory when Mkhize – who had just come off the bench – touched down in the corner, with Duvenage adding the conversion.

Player That Rocks: Luyolo Dapula (Madibaz)

The scorers:

For Madibaz:
Tries: Van Eeden, Ngobe, Stokes
Con: Schutte
Pen: Schutte

For UFS Shimlas:
Tries: Klinck, Mkhize
Con: Duvenage
Pens: Duvenage 4

Teams:

Madibaz: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Khakalethu Bophi, 13 Aya Oliphant, 12 Stephan Botes, 11 Nkoka Ngobe, 10 Tiaan Schutte, 9 Gavin Mills, 8 Cameron Cato, 7 Siyamthanda Jwacu, 6 Arnouw Nel, 5 Hardus van Eeden, 4 Luyolo Dapula (captain), 3 Le-Kleu Stokes, 2 Tembekile Boltina, 1 Robert Lyons.
Replacements: 16 Corné Slabbert, 17 Jordan Caraher, 18 Laken Gray, 19 Jaco van der Walt, 20 André Gerber, 21 Siphosethu Dlongodlongo, 22 Chadwyn November, 23 Likhona Dywili.

UFS Shimlas: 15 Janco van Heyningen, 14 Shima Molepo, 13 Janco Klinck, 12 JP Duvenage, 11 Ayabonga Matroos, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Rewan Kruger (c), 8 Ruwald van der Merwe, 7 Uzile Tele, 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Thabang Mahlasi, 4 Pierre Uys, 3 Tshepo Nchabeng, 2 Carl Wijburg, 1 Johan Schutte.
Replacements: 16 Jhaques Thyssen, 17 Daniel Wessels, 18 Zéan Augustyn, 19 George Rossouw, 20 Kamohelo Chabana, 21 Hlumelo Klaas, 22 Francois Agenbag, 23 Luyanda Mkhize.

UWC 31 (0) UJ 5 (5)

UWC scored three second-half tries to claim a comfortable win against UJ at Loftus Versfeld.

UJ scored the only try of a tight first half, but it was the Capetonians who dominated the second, with two late tries by centre André Manuel inflating the score.

After an uneventful first 20 minutes, UJ broke the deadlock when wing Prince Nkabinde powered over from close range to score.

UWC were reduced to 14 men late in the first half when lock Bronlee Mouries was yellow-carded for collapsing a UJ maul. However, they did not conceded any points while he was off the field.

UWC scrumhalf Branden de Kock kicked a penalty early in the second half before UJ No.8 Siyabonga Masuku was sent to the sin-bin.

Four minutes later, UWC replacement flyhalf Ethan Diston scored a superb point-of-origin try, with De Kock kicking the conversion and then adding a penalty to make it 15-5.

UJ had more than one chance to get back into the game but their execution and finishing cost them.

UWC then sealed the deal when Manuel ran in two late tries, the first a seven-pointer, to secure their second win of the competition.

Player That Rocks: Justin Theys (UWC)

The scorers:

For UJ:
Try: Nkabinde.

For UWC:
Tries: Diston (1×7), Manuel (1×7, 1×5)
Cons: De Kock 3
Pens: De Kock 2

Teams:

UWC: 15 Tiaan Henecke, 14 Peter Williams, 13 André Manuel, 12 Lyle Hendricks, 11 Lundi Msenge, 10 Johannes van Biljon, 9 Branden de Kock, 8 Tinotenda Mavesere, 7 Godfrey Muzanargwo, 6 Romuald Nsombamanya, 5 Pieter-Steyl Swanepoel (captain), 4 Bronlee Mouries, 3 Justin Theys, 2 Jacques van Zyl, 1 Luvo Bazi.
Replacements: 16 Jason Alexander, 17 Ebrahiem Davids, 18 Riaan van der Merwe, 19 Jacques Mostert, 20 Bradman Grove, 21 Conwill Conradie, 22 Ethan Diston, 23 Jason Cloete.

UJ: 15 Boldwin Hansen, 14 Siphamandla Matsinya, 13 Tyreeq February, 12 Indiphile Tyeda, 11 Prince Nkabinde, 10 Jurich Claasens, 9 Mpho Kubheka, 8 Siyabonga Masuku, 7 Kwagga van Niekerk (captain), 6 Kelvin Kanenungo, 5 Tyler Brown, 4 Lunga Ncube, 3 Coenrad Vrey, 2 Pierre Rabie, 1 Nkosikhona Masuku.
Replacements: 16 Enrique Coutriers, 17 Luke Fortuin, 18 Herman Agenbag, 19 Philip Apea-Adu, 20 Franco Schutte, 21 Eduan Smit, 22 Nkondlo Radebe, 23 Enrique Franks.

NWU EAGLES 22 (6) WITS 20 (5)

Flyhalf Keagan Fortune kicked an 82nd-minute penalty goal to give the NWU Eagles a dramatic win at Loftus Versfeld.

It was Fortune’s fifth penalty in a match that was played in pouring rain for most of the first half. He punished the indiscipline of Wits, who outscored their opponents by three tries to one and took a 20-19 lead in the 79th minute.

Wits came into this match with confidence having thrashed the Madibaz on Tuesday, while NWU were looking to get back to winning ways after a disappointing loss to Maties.

As the rain bucketed down at Loftus, Fortune kicked an early penalty for NWU before prop Keagan Glade went over for Wits’ first try.

Wits were dealt a heavy blow after losing experienced lock Kevin du Randt, who was stretchered off the field, and Fortune’s second penalty gave the Eagles a slender 6-5 lead at half-time.

No.8 Travis Gordon showed great strength and skill to score Wits’ second try early in the second half, but Fortune’s boot reduced the deficit to one.

In the 57th minute, Wits flyhalf Kurt Webster was red-carded for a shoulder charge and NWU finally gained momentum through the maul, with replacement hooker Gustav du Rand scoring his seventh try of the tournament.

Their lead was short-lived, however, as Wits centre Yanga Hlalu sliced through the defence to score under the posts and fullback Christian Humphries’ first conversion of the evening put his side ahead 17-16.

Fortune and Humphries then exchanged penalties, but it was the Eagles No.10 who would have the final say.

Player That Rocks: Chuiner van Rooyen (NWU Eagles)

The scorers:

For NWU Eagles:
Try: Du Rand
Con: Fortune
Pens: Fortune 5

For Wits
Tries: Glade, Gordon, Hlalu
Con: Humphries
Pen: Humphries

Teams:

NWU Eagles: 15 Shane van Rooyen, 14 Sylvester Hassien, 13 Lincoln Daniels (captain), 12 Marco Donges, 11 Charl Pretorius, 10 Keagan Fortune, 9 Riaan Genis, 8 André Fouché, 7 Jandré de Beer, 6 Chris Vermaak, 5 Jeandré Leonard, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Vernon Paulo, 1 Komape Moloto.
Replacements: 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Ruben du Plessis, 18 Arno Gustafson, 19 Wihan Nel, 20 Didi Sekati, 21 Nivan Petersen, 22 Kagiso Woodbridge, 23 Meyer Kriel.

Wits: 15 Christian Humphries, 14 Jimmy Mpailane, 13 Yanga Hlalu, 12 Aidynn Cupido, 11 Matthew Mcdonald, 10 Kurt Webster, 9 Hlumelo Ndudula, 8 Travis Gordon, 7 Phillip Krause, 6 Constant Beckerling (co-captain), 5 William Thomson, 4 Kevin du Randt, 3 Keagan Glade, 2 Dameon Venter, 1 Banele Mthenjane.
Replacements: 16 Justin Brandon (co-captain), 17 Bhekisa Shongwe, 18 Ebot Buma, 19 Junior White, 20 Mark Snyman, 21 Dylan Meyer, 22 Gerswin Mouton, 23 Lwazi Monakali.

UP-TUKS v UCT IKEYS

Friday’s other Round Six match, between UP-Tuks and UCT Ikeys, was cancelled in line with Covid-19 protocols and declared a 0-0 draw. Both teams received two log points.